Sunday, October 21, 2012
Farm Bureau Ag Day
I was asked by our local Farm Bureau to do a sheep dog demonstration for the annual Ag Day. So Tate and I were honored to "show off" for the 4th graders! The kids were "impressed" and asked lots of really good questions. Of course they all wanted to pet Tate, and he wasn't too sure at first - but realized that the kids just love him!! We sure had a lot of fun!!
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Pete Update
I could write and write and write and ooooo and ahhhhh about my Pete pup! Thanks to http://www.dogtrainingcollars.com/ for making this post about Pete possible.
I'll preface my update about Pete by saying that without Emil
and Spot
there wouldn't be a Pete nor an update by me about him.
Emil raised Pete from his nice gyp Hope who is a daughter of Spot. Spot was 2010 Reserve Champion of the Meeker Classic, 6th at the 2010 USBCHA National Trial, and the Texas Sheep Dog Association State Champion in 2010 and 2011.
Now to Pete - I think I was a little tentative starting Pete, but Emil got us "jump started" about a 10 days ago. (He kicked me in the hiney, but got Pete going out on stock!!) Well, we are doing super good!! I want Pete to be "my" dog, but I'm depending on Emil to help me get him to his best!
By the way, Pete's half brother placed 6th at this year's USBCHA Nationals in Nursery and was voted "Most Promising Young Dog". So needless to say, Emil has put a little pressure on Pete and me to get qualified in nursery. I'm open to the concept, but I've seen too many cutting horses ruined at a young age because of too much pressure, so I don't plan on putting Pete or me in that situation. Besides, Pete is a 2 year nursery dog, so we've got plenty of time to make it to nationals! 2014 Nationals are back in Carbondale, Colorado - my home state - so what a thrill for sure to make it there!!
Without further ado - a few photos of Pete's latest working session!
I'll preface my update about Pete by saying that without Emil
and Spot
there wouldn't be a Pete nor an update by me about him.
Emil raised Pete from his nice gyp Hope who is a daughter of Spot. Spot was 2010 Reserve Champion of the Meeker Classic, 6th at the 2010 USBCHA National Trial, and the Texas Sheep Dog Association State Champion in 2010 and 2011.
Now to Pete - I think I was a little tentative starting Pete, but Emil got us "jump started" about a 10 days ago. (He kicked me in the hiney, but got Pete going out on stock!!) Well, we are doing super good!! I want Pete to be "my" dog, but I'm depending on Emil to help me get him to his best!
By the way, Pete's half brother placed 6th at this year's USBCHA Nationals in Nursery and was voted "Most Promising Young Dog". So needless to say, Emil has put a little pressure on Pete and me to get qualified in nursery. I'm open to the concept, but I've seen too many cutting horses ruined at a young age because of too much pressure, so I don't plan on putting Pete or me in that situation. Besides, Pete is a 2 year nursery dog, so we've got plenty of time to make it to nationals! 2014 Nationals are back in Carbondale, Colorado - my home state - so what a thrill for sure to make it there!!
Without further ado - a few photos of Pete's latest working session!
Happy Trails to Ya'll!!!
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Update - Bess
Now that the weather is cooler, I'm getting a lot more dog working time. The sheep and goats are happier, the dogs are happier and I'm a whole lot happier. Thanks to http://www.dogbarkcollar.com/ for making this post about Bess possible.
Bess is now 17 months old and should be further along in her training, but due to my "noviceness" and wanting to do it right, I've taken it slow. She is also a slow to mature, and really my goal is to have a solid dog that will work on the ranch and show at trials, so I'd rather go slow than have to back up and fix a lot of things.
One of the things that I have had to work on Bess is her confidence. She "busts" the stock when she feels like they are "challenging" her. Once I realized that is what caused her to bust, I've worked a lot on creating work/practice situations that builds her confidence. So, we're still in the round pen, but she is driving and rating her stock much better and her short outruns and flanks are getting much better. I use the round pen to "shape" the sheep, and she has to drive them around the pen. By doing this she is learning to "hold the pressure" correctly and not cause the sheep to squirt out off the fence, and to keep them going around in an easy manner. She has been a difficult dog to "get out" off stock as when you correct her, she thinks you;re wanting her to take to the stock. So, it has been a learning process for me to see what makes her "tick" But she is such a fun dog, loves me and really wants to please. So, I'm very pleased with what we have accomplished thus far.
Thanks so much for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my little corner of the dog world!
Bess is now 17 months old and should be further along in her training, but due to my "noviceness" and wanting to do it right, I've taken it slow. She is also a slow to mature, and really my goal is to have a solid dog that will work on the ranch and show at trials, so I'd rather go slow than have to back up and fix a lot of things.
One of the things that I have had to work on Bess is her confidence. She "busts" the stock when she feels like they are "challenging" her. Once I realized that is what caused her to bust, I've worked a lot on creating work/practice situations that builds her confidence. So, we're still in the round pen, but she is driving and rating her stock much better and her short outruns and flanks are getting much better. I use the round pen to "shape" the sheep, and she has to drive them around the pen. By doing this she is learning to "hold the pressure" correctly and not cause the sheep to squirt out off the fence, and to keep them going around in an easy manner. She has been a difficult dog to "get out" off stock as when you correct her, she thinks you;re wanting her to take to the stock. So, it has been a learning process for me to see what makes her "tick" But she is such a fun dog, loves me and really wants to please. So, I'm very pleased with what we have accomplished thus far.
Thanks so much for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my little corner of the dog world!
Happy Trails to Ya'll
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Another Dog Update - Tate
I know that I stated that I wasn't going to let this blog slide, but alas...I did! But August was just too "dog gone" hot to work dogs much, so I turned the sheep out to pasture and did as little as I could!
But we have had cooler weather and even some rain, so my "temperature" is a lot better, too! Soooo...back to the round pen and the practice trial field. Also, a special thanks to http://www.dogfencediy.com/ for making this post possible.
TATE:
I've still been using Tate every day to gather goats. I've been also getting ready for our fall trial season. Again, I opted to not do any of the arena trials, but there are two weekends in October, where I will be entered up for two runs each weekend. Therefore, Tate and I have been working on our "whistles" - Tate "taking" them and me "giving" them correctly! We're getting there, thought at times it is slow. Since I've moved up from the Novice class to the Ranch class, we now have to do a shortened version of an Open Ranch Run. Tate and I have been working on drives and cross drives. Our drives, both right and left are pretty good, if I do say so myself, but alas, still lots of work on our cross drives, though we are getting better!
Stayed tuned for updates (and new photos) of Bess and Pete!
But we have had cooler weather and even some rain, so my "temperature" is a lot better, too! Soooo...back to the round pen and the practice trial field. Also, a special thanks to http://www.dogfencediy.com/ for making this post possible.
TATE:
I've still been using Tate every day to gather goats. I've been also getting ready for our fall trial season. Again, I opted to not do any of the arena trials, but there are two weekends in October, where I will be entered up for two runs each weekend. Therefore, Tate and I have been working on our "whistles" - Tate "taking" them and me "giving" them correctly! We're getting there, thought at times it is slow. Since I've moved up from the Novice class to the Ranch class, we now have to do a shortened version of an Open Ranch Run. Tate and I have been working on drives and cross drives. Our drives, both right and left are pretty good, if I do say so myself, but alas, still lots of work on our cross drives, though we are getting better!
Tate bringing in goats
Tate moving sheep in the pens
Stayed tuned for updates (and new photos) of Bess and Pete!
HAPPY TRAILS TO YOU!!
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Pete Update/Working Stock
I've had Pete on stock about 8 times and he is doing very well, balancing, going both ways, wearing sheep. I don't have a lie down on him yet and as you can see I still have the drag line. He is VERY keen, and a lot of fun to work!!
Happy Trails To Ya'll!!!!
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Monday, June 25, 2012
Can't let it slide any longer!
I've decided that I've let this blog go stagnate for long enough. Even though the dog world doesn't talk much, I'm going to use this as a way to journal my progress with my dogs.
I received the cute little flower bag from one of my daughters for my birthday - Yes it says "TRIAL TREATS" and she had it monogrammed specially for me and my dogs and yes it is full of doggie treats, but not treats for me!
My whistles - I have been working very hard on my whistles. These are the two that I'm using right now for Bess, Pete and Liesl. For Tate I've converted strictly to whistling with my fingers (which I have been able to do since 8th grade and that was a LOOOOOOOONG time ago!). I started him with that, and he doesn't seem to want to convert to the dog whistles. So, we're doing pretty well with them.
Dog updates:
Didn't trial with Tate much this spring. We were very busy kidding out goats. Made one trial and Tate did okay - tough sheep that ran all over the place, but Tate kept his five together, but we just didn't make the course. 2nd run, I got in a hurry and my voice was a little pitchy so made Tate a little pitchy, same running sheep, made the course, but retired at the pens because one ewe was bound and determined to go to the exhaust and Tate was gonna help her!
Bess is doing very well in her training. She's outrunning, fetching and wearing her stock very well. I've started driving her some in the round pen and she is picking it up very well. We're both gaining confidence in each other, and I think we will be a great team down the road!!
Pete is 10 months old and I've had him on stock a couple of times - shows a lot of keenness and desire. I'm working on dry work commands, but we're soon to go to stock!
Liesl - well - a friend/mentor of mine took her for a spell to work her. I wasn't doing the dog any good and I knew it, so wanted someone with more experience to work her. My friend tells me that I didn't hurt her at all (thankfully!) and that she is doing well. So far not any big bugs, just needed a confident handler to get her listening!
Would love comments and a chance to visit with any dog person! Love to hear what your doing with your dogs, because each time I make contact, I learn something from each and every one of you!
Happy Trails to You!!
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